As part of the ongoing 1916 Rising Commemorations, the Fine Gael led government has arranged a special series of ‘Show Trials’ for the entertainment of the masses.

Very kindly, Irish newspapers, journalists and politicians have risen to the challenge of making this experience as close to the original as possible. To quote that memorable Irish Times 1916 editorial:

​‘We said, and we repeat, that the surgeon’s knife of the State must not be stayed “until the whole malignant growth has been removed”… Our demand that the elements of rebellion should be finally extinguished… We have called for the severest punishment of the leaders and responsible agents of the insurrection.’

Exactly as in 1916, the public has been fed a constant stream of vitriol against the defendants and those who support them. Comparisons to ISIS and labels such as ‘Sinister Fringe’ have been spat across the parliament floor in a wholly convincing portrayal of the bloodlust for vengeance which existed among the ruling class and courtiers in 1916.

The Minister for Recreations told us:

“We can’t do military trials, but we appoint the judges and control the jury. We encourage people to come along to the courts where rotten fruit & veg will be provided free of charge to throw at the guilty on their way in and out during the course of the trial. We expect it to be a huge family event”.

In a break with history, it is understood that negotiations are underway with RTÉ and SKY to televise the executions live from Kilmainham Jail where the Garda Band will play a constant loop of ‘God Save the Queen’. Seats are limited and families are advised to book early for what will be the last event in the 1916 Rising Commemorations.

A protestor apprehended by have-a-go Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, a former Mountie, at the State Ceremonial event to remember the British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising, 1916.

Grangegorman Military Cemetery is where many of the soldiers are buried.

[A poppy wreath dedicated to the members of one British Army regiment who lost their lives during 1916 has been removed]. It seems the Battle of Mount Street Bridge is still raging on….Beggars belief that these anyone would desecrate a memorial of 1916.
But at the same time, it’s a typical republican attitude of ‘our way or no way’ and trying to destroy any reparations between our two nations that the rest of us, the vast majority, try to encourage…

It was 100 years ago today that the first radio broadcast took place from Dublin, and stations across the Republic are marking the occasion on-air.

At 5.30pm – the exact time of the first morse code transmission on April 25th 1916 – IBI and RTÉ radio stations will come together to air a special feature on the birth of a nation, and the beginning of radio.

It’s an 80-second morse code themed radio experience titled “The Sound of Sixteen” which imagines the battling sounds and dangerous atmosphere of the times.

Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers (Castlecomer) held its Centenary Sale in The Gresham Hotel [Dublin 1] this afternoon, where an original copy of the Proclamation sold for €150,000 hammer price. A hundred years ago they were printing them ready for use.

Wrecking the Rising – a new three part drama series from Tile Films filmed at a full sized GPO set constructed inside a hanger at Galway airport. To wit:

The series follows three modern-day Irishmen, Ernest (Owen McDonnell – An Klondike / Single Handed), Tom (Sean T. Ó Meallaigh – The Callback Queen /Vikings) and Seán (Peter Coonan – Love/Hate [currently narrating RTE’s Inside The GPO series]), who endure listless and unexciting lives living in Dublin. Their only enjoyment comes from staging re-enactments of the Easter Rising. After being mysteriously transported back in time to 1916 they cause a huge blunder that has the potential to wreck the Easter Rising before it has even begun. Somehow they must keep history on course – and figure out a way to return to the future.